Grand Ayatollah
Naser Makarem Shirazi is one of the most influential ayatollahs currently in
Iran. He is a spiritual guide for many Twelver Shi'a Muslims.

His
studies

In Iran

He started his formal Islamic studies at the age of 14 in the
Agha Babakhan Shirazi seminary. After completing the introductory studies,
he started studying jurisprudence (fiqh) and its principles (usul
al-fiqh).

He made rapid progress and finished studying the complete
levels of introductory and both the levels of the intermediate Islamic
studies in approximately four years. During this time, he also taught at the
Islamic seminary in Shiraz.

At the age of 18, he formally entered the theological
seminary of Qom, and for the next five years was present in the religious
gatherings and classes of some of the leading Islamic teachers of those
days, such as Ayatollah Muhammad Hussein Burujerdi, & Ayatollah Seyyed Kazem
Shariatmadari.

In Najaf (Iraq)

In 1950 he made his way to the seminary of Najaf, Iraq. Here,
he was able to take part in classes of teachers such as Ayatollah Muhsin
al-Hakim, Ayatollah Abul-Qassim Khoei and Ayatollah Abdul Hadi ash-Shirazi.

At the age of 24, he was granted complete ijtihad by two
senior scholars in Najaf. Ayatollah Muhsin al-Hakim also wrote a short,
comprehensive letter of commendation for him.

In 1951 he returned to Qom, since he did not have the means
to survive and continue his studies in Najaf.

After returning to Iran, Ayatollah Nasir Makarim Shirazi
began teaching the intermediate and higher level of studies in usul al-fiqh
and fiqh. Also, he was a member of the editorial board of the first Islamic
magazine published in Iran named "Maktab'e Eslam", next to Ayatollah
Shariatmadari.

He has won the Iranian Royal Academy of Philosophy' award for
his essay "Filsuf-Namaha".

Political Activities

Ayatollah Makarim Shirazi was active in the pre-revolution
days; hence he was thrown in jail many times. He was even exiled o­n three
separate occasions to three different locations-Chabahar, Mahabad and Anarak.
After the Iranian revolution, he was appointed to the first council of
Representatives and played a major role in writing the first constitution.

Fatwas and
viewpoints

Beating a disobedient wife

According to Makarem Shirazi, a Muslim man may "under
exceptional circumstances" inflict a "light physical punishment" on his wife
for not willing to perform her [sexual] marital duties. The physical
punishment, he explains, must be very light where no harm or injuries are
caused and even "the skin should not turn red". The "exceptional
circumstances" are to be considered after [nicely asking and] advising,
grumping, and separating beds, "just like when a surgery is the last resort
for a patient"

Wrongly translatednews articles have referenced
Makarem Shirazi, saying Islam allows a man to beat his wife. This leading
ayatollah describes on his website, that Islam has ordered men to have good
behavior with their spouses and has even forbidden them from yelling and
speaking to their wives with temper [1].
On the same topic, Makarem Shirazi says, if a man does not perform his
marital duties towards his wife, even after advice and when there is no
other solution, the Islamic government can physically punish him [on behalf
of the wife] [1].

In the same article, he references psychiatrists (probably
Krafft-Ebing's Psychopathia Sexualis) and mentions that "some women" have
natural tendency towards sexual masochism and a slight punishment act will
help in "easing their mind"

Women's attendance in stadiums

In the aftermath of an attempt by President Ahmadinejad to
allow women to attend soccer matches in stadiums (something they are not
able to do now), Makarem issued a fatwa objecting to this.

Alternatives to stoning

Makarem's fatwa concerning stoning to death for adultery
reads: "In certain circumstances, death by stoning can be replaced by other
methods of punishment".[3]